Middle East Near You

Israeli intelligence suffers shortage of information about Gaza

There is a shortage of intelligence about the Gaza Strip, the Israel Defence Forces have claimed. The shortage, Felesteen reported on Sunday, affects the IDF’s ability to carry out Special Forces operations.

The newspaper quoted Israel’s Walla website, which is close to the Israeli intelligence agencies, as saying that senior Israeli military sources believe that the disengagement with the Gaza Strip in August 2005 diminished their abilities to recruit spies in Gaza. Such difficulties were made obvious by the Gilad Shalit affair, said Walla. During the five years of his captivity, the IDF had no intelligence about his whereabouts, even though the Gaza Strip is a relatively small territory.

Online newspaper Today’s Opinion claimed that the lack of information about Shalit proved the failure of Israeli intelligence. It added that a lack of information undermines Israel’s ability to carry out operations in Syria and Lebanon.

Today’s Opinion also said that Israeli naval commandos attempted to carry out a surprise attack against Hamas in the north of the Gaza Strip during last year’s summer offensive. Their failure resulting from Hamas vigilance was considered to be a “resounding failure” by Israel. Indeed, former Chief of Staff Beni Gantz has hinted that carrying out special operations in the heart of Gaza is “impossible” due to Hamas preparations.

Meanwhile, an Israeli military official has said that Israeli will occupy Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City during any future war. The official claimed that the hospital would be under Hamas control and the movement’s command headquarters. The purpose, reported Walla, would be to prevent the broadcast of images of the inevitable civilian casualties and thus reduce the damage to Israel’s reputation in the international arena.

Israel’s strategy in a future war against the people of Gaza, it has been reported recently, will include massive attacks in an attempt to shorten the conflict.

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